Event to benefit Nevada Union’s debate team

Photo submitted to The Union by Sam Haley-Hill
Nevada Union High School's Debate at the Jack Howe invitational, which was held in Septemeber at Long Beach State. In the finals, NU beat Petaluma's St. Vincent DePaul. Sophmores Connor Pardini and Theo Twidwell took the honors.

Related Media

The Nevada County Bar Association is hosting “Miner Disputes,” a kickoff fundraiser for the Nevada Union High School debate team Monday at the Stonehouse in downtown Nevada City.

Each debate will feature four student advocates presenting arguments for and against each topic.

Michael Cobden and Valerie Logsdon, president and vice president of the Nevada County Bar Association, will facilitate a cross-examination by audience members and conclude each debate with an audience vote by purchased tokens to determine the winning team.

Debate topics will include “Stand your ground” laws are a legitimate expansion of the self-defense doctrine; Nevada County should prohibit marijuana dispensaries; and President Obama ought to be re-elected.

Doors open at 5:30 p,m, with appetizers by Blue Ginger Catering, followed by three rounds of debate on current events.

Tickets are $20 and include four voting tokens. Additional voting tokens are $5 each.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will go to the Nevada Union debate team boosters, which fund the program, including team coach Sam Haley-Hill’s salary.

The Nevada Union debate team was slated to lose Haley-Hill due to cuts in funding and his lack of seniority.

But the debate boosters, a parent-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, rallied to retain him as the team’s coach with monthly financial pledges and fundraisers.

The Nevada County Bar Association was eager to help the efforts of the boosters because its members understand the value of rigorous research and public speaking skills, a news release states.

Under Haley-Hill’s guidance, as well as that of volunteer coach Stephen Goldberg, the NU debate team has made a name for itself and is considered a formidable team on the competitive circuit.

In order to keep this program going, the boosters must raise close to $80,000 to pay for coaching, tournament fees and travel expenses.

Visit www.NUdebate.org to reserve tickets and find out more about NU’s debate team and its fundraising efforts.